Producer Profiles

Over the years, we’ve had a number of Christmas visitors here at our ranch on Withington Creek in the mountains near Salmon, Idaho, and the most memorable were baby calves.

I would like to tell the story of a real-life Christmas miracle. With the hustle and bustle of the world around us, we often forget that the Christmas season is a very special time, and miracles do happen.

Grant Vassberg doesn’t let age impede his ability to lead the family seedstock operation. A steady youth movement is largely what defines his entire approach at Kallion Farms – a 1,300-head operation in College Station, Texas.

Family tradition states John Walker (of Scottish-Irish descent) and his five brothers served in the American Revolution Continental Army. John Walker served as a private in Captain John Morrow’s company of Pennsylvania Riflemen, 2nd Battalion, signing up in May of 1776.

To some, a rancher and a range conservationist could be considered “night and day,” but are these two groups of people really that different?

The current average age of farmers and ranchers in the U.S. is about 58 years. Since this is an average number, it signifies that a large number of farmers and ranchers are over 58 years old.